Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Feds Push Muslim Dress on Christian Girls: Schools

President Obama's Department of Education is advocating the introduction of Islamic garb in public schools, and so schools across America are doing just that. In Rochester, New York, hundreds of students and faculty participated in World Hijab Day at World of Inquiry School No. 58. Critics said this was a violation of "separation of church and state" but the school's attorney said, on the contrary, NOT bringing Islamic dress into the school would be a constitutional violation.

"Our school believes in diversity and inclusion. [This] is well within the protocol of experiential learning."-- Principal Sheela Webster (wearing a hijab), World School of Inquiry

"As a high school teacher for over 30 years, let me say that this is wrong on so many levels."-- Jim Farnholz

"How disgusting and irresponsible for any educator to encourage a child to wear a symbol of oppression, whether it be religious or cultural."-- Rebecca Sluman

The event was initiated after tenth grader Eman Muthana -- who routinely wears a hijab -- wrote a letter to the school concerned about how she and other girls were being viewed.

Friday, the school set up tables in the cafeteria to allow students to ask questions -- and invited girls to try on a hijab. Boys were given carnations to show their support.

Board of Education President Van White came to witness the event -- and says he came away proud of Muthana and the students who took part.

Parents were notified by automated calls Friday about the event -- but only after media began inquiring. White says in hindsight, the school probably should have planned to bring parents into the conversation sooner, so they could have discussions with their own children about the topic.

Critics lashed out on social media as word spread about the public school's decision to partake in the day that some say violates the separation of church and state.

A district spokesman told 13WHAM News they consulted with a lawyer about today's event. The lawyer said there would be more of a legal issue if the school said no to this event.

"I love that we're having the open conversation. I think that's the first step into making it a more open and tolerant environment. I think this is the perfect school for it," said English-as-a-Second-Language teacher Kelly Lalonde.

It was almost like any other school day, except the hijab, an Islamic headscarf, seemed to be everyone’s fashion of choice among high school girls. It didn’t matter if they were Islam in faith or not. They were simply celebrating World Hijab Day.

World Hijab Day is observed every first of February. The celebration started three years ago when New York resident Nazma Khan thought of using the hijab as a way to promote religious tolerance and understanding. Moreover, Khan wanted to dispel the myth that the hijab is meant to represent oppression and segregation. Rather, this sacred headscarf has the power to make someone feel beautiful.

This year, Khan hoped to have 10 million participants for the World Hijab Day. . . .

. . . Classrooms and schools should provide learning environments that are not only free from discrimination and harassment based on protected traits—including religion—but should also be conduits for students to build bridges with other students across different backgrounds, break down stereotypes, acknowledge and affirm important aspects of their identity, and learn how to be an ally when faced with bullying and bias.

Here are a few important anti-bias and bullying prevention strategies that teachers can use to address anti-Muslim sentiment:

Create an anti-bias learning environment. This means incorporating the experiences, perspective and words of Muslim people into the curriculum through social studies and current events instruction, children’s literature Site exit disclaimer, in order to learn about different cultures. When you teach about world religions, be sure to include Islam. . . .

Encourage students to learn how to be an ally when faced with bias or bullying. . . . In addition, share inspiring examples like Walk a Mile in Her Hijab, whose goal is to spread awareness about Muslim cultural traditions and to combat anti-Muslim bias.